Driftwood Western — In Development
Pronghorn
A field precision bolt rifle for long-shot hunting.
In DevelopmentThis project is under active development and is not yet a Tried & True build. Specifications may change as testing continues.
Why it exists
Precision You Can Carry
A long shot in the field is a different problem than a long shot from the bench. The rifle has to be carried — up a ridge, across open country, in and out of the truck — and then settle from a real field position: off a pack, a bipod on uneven ground, a fence post, sitting or prone in whatever the country gives you.
Rifles built for distance often buy accuracy with weight. Light hunting rifles often give up stability to save it. Pronghorn exists to answer one question:
How do we build a precision hunting bolt rifle that can make difficult field shots without becoming a heavy, bench-oriented rifle?
The development brief
What Pronghorn Has to Do
- —Serious hunting accuracy at meaningful distance.
- —Practical weight — carried all day, still steady enough to shoot well.
- —Balance and shootability from real field positions.
- —A cartridge with genuine capability for the job.
- —Suppressor compatibility where appropriate.
- —Traditional sporting character rather than a tactical appearance.
Pronghorn is meant to be a precision-capable Western hunting rifle, not a heavy competition or bench gun. It can be configured for either left- or right-handed shooters.
Current direction
The First Development Build
The first Pronghorn development build is in its early stages. Its choices so far are one configuration of Pronghorn, not the only one.
Form Churchill MKII, the preferred stock for the first build (shown bare, in a laminate finish; the final color and configuration aren’t set). Manufacturer photo: Form Rifle Stocks.
Direction
6.5 PRC
The cartridge direction for the first build.
Direction
Form Churchill MKII stock
The preferred stock for the first build — a hunting stock that suits a precision-capable rifle.
Under evaluation
Action
A premium action in a Remington 700 footprint, matched to the stock’s inlet before anything is sourced.
Open
Barrel, length and contour
To be chosen for accuracy, carry weight and suppressed use.
Open
Optic
To be chosen for hunting light and realistic distances.
Open
Weight target
To be set once the mission and distances are confirmed.
What we’re evaluating
Where the Balance Lives
- —A weight target that still holds steady from field positions.
- —The pairing of action and stock.
- —Barrel length and contour for accuracy, carry and suppressed use.
- —Realistic hunting distances, and an accuracy standard to hold the rifle to.
- —An optic that suits hunting light as well as distance.
What comes next
Mission First, Then Parts
The next step is confirming the mission — the hunting, the realistic distances and the weight the rifle needs to carry — then selecting the action and verifying the stock inlet before parts are sourced. After that come assembly, load development and field testing.
Follow along
Talk With Us About This Project
Pronghorn isn’t available to order yet. If you hunt open country and this is the rifle you’ve been looking for, we’d like to hear what you need it to do.